Device for mixing combustible components recovered from exhaust gases with fuel charge of carburetor

ABSTRACT

A device for mixing combustible components recovered from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine with the fuel charge of a carburetor, the device being connected to the carburetor and the intake manifold, the recovered combustible components and disposed above the fuel charge being thoroughly intermixed before they reach the manifold. This device is used in conjunction with the apparatus for utilizing exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, muffler and spark arrestor shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,435,810.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Ewald A. Busse Redwood City, Calif. (151 E. St. Auburn, Calif. 95603) [21] Appl. No. 844,977 [22] Filed July 25, 1969 [45] Patented May 25, 1971 [54] DEVICE FOR MIXING COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS RECOVERED FROM EXHAUST GASES WITII FUEL CHARGE OF CARBURETOR 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 123/119A [51] Int. Cl ...F02m 25/06 [50] Field ofSearch 123/119 (A), 119(B), 119(D), 119 (D2), 119

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,382,285 6/1921 Harris 123/119 1,766,676 6/1930 Moore 123/119 1,795,556 2/1931 Moore 123/119 2,354,179 7/1944 Blanc 123/119 2,969,782 1/1961 Falzone 123/119 3,042,014 7/1962 Falzone 123/119 3,116,725 l/1964 Hadley 123/119 3,294,073 12/1966 Bressan 123/119 3,435,810 1/1969 Busse, 123/119 Primary ExaminerWendell E. Burns Att0rneyJ0seph F. Cole ABSTRACT: A device for mixing combustible components recovered from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine with the fuel charge of a carburetor, the device being connected to the carburetor and the intake manifold, the recovered combustible components and disposed above the fuel charge being thoroughly intermixed before they reach the manifold. This device is used in conjunction with the apparatus for utilizing exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, muffler and spark arrestor shown in my US Pat. No. 3,435,810.

us. PAT NO. 3,435,8 O

Patented May 25, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet l m l Us Q N m W fl 1 in "an" x I F 5 f z m f 68 5 y 6 Q Q "a" z .3 a r h "T O N C" i M in 2 r E n 5 u ATTORNEY Patented May 25, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

EWAL D A.Busss AT TORNEY :Ellzll 9:-

DEVICE FOR MIXING COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS RECOVERED FROM EXHAUST GASES WITH FUEL CHARGE OF CARBURETOR SUMMARY In my US. Pat. No. 3,435,810 there is disclosed an apparatus for separating the heavier and lighter components of exhaust gases from one another by centrifugal force, and these lighter components are conveyed to the internal combustion engine to augment the fuel charge from the carburetor. The heavier components are recycled to recover additional lighter components for use in the engine, while the purified components of the exhaust gases are conveyed to the atmosphere.

It is proposed in this invention to provide a wafer-thin device that is interposed between the carburetor and the intake manifold, and to convey the lighter combustible components recovered from the exhaust gases to this device for mixing with the fuel charge of the carburetor, the combustible components and the charge of fuel being thoroughly intermixed by whirling the latter prior to entering the intake manifold.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which:

FIG. I is a side elevational view showing my device as being interposed between a carburetor and an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, the device being coupled to the apparatus for utilizing exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, muffler and spark arrestor shown in my US, Pat. No. 3,435,810.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the plane 2-2 of FIG. I, the device itself being shown in top plan view.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the plane 3-3 of FIG. 2 the dot-dash illustration showing a lower plate of the device before it is folded under an upper plate thereof.

FIG. 4 is an oblique view of a spacer that is used on the interior of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT This application for patent incorporates essential material" by reference to my US. Pat. No. 3,435,8l0, dated Apr. 1, I969, and entitled Apparatus for utilizing exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, muffler and spark arrestor." This apparatus is shown in part in FIG. I of the present application and is designated generally at J, and the legend US. Pat No. 3,435,8l has been applied thereto, and this part of the present drawings is identical with FIG. I of said patent.

Briefly described, the apparatus J discloses a tubular casing A and its front end has an inlet pipe 11 attached thereto, this pipe being connectable to an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine so that exhaust gases from the engine will be delivered to the interior of the casing. The latter is further provided at its rear end 12 with an outlet pipe 13 leading to the atmosphere. v

As illustrated in detail by FIGS. 2 and 4 of said patent, a helical partition (omitted from present drawings) is mounted in the tubular casing A and coacting therewith to form a spiral passageway extending longitudinally of the casing, this spiral passageway communicating with the inlet pipe II so as to receive a rapid flow of exhaust gases therefrom, whereby heavier and lighter components will be separated from one another by centrifugal force into outer and inner streams, respectively, as the exhaust gases whirl along the spiral passageway.

The heavier components of the exhaust gases are combustibly inert water vapor, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, while the lighter components contain hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide which may be employed efiiciently to augment the engine-operating charge. The lighter components are conveyed by an outlet pipe 16 to a device K for mixing combustible components recovered from the exhaust gases with the fuel charge of a carburetor L.

As shown and described in detail in said patent, the heavier components of the centrifuged exhaust gases are recycled through the spiral passageway for recovering additional lighter components of the exhaust gases that may be mixed therewith, whereby these additional lighter components may be conveyed to the device K. The outlet pipe 13 communicates with the spiral passageway for receiving purified gases and conveying them to the atmosphere. The means for recycling the heavier components includes an outer housing F that surrounds the tubular casing A and is spaced therefrom to form a compartment G. Moreover, a first lateral deflector 25 is carried by the tubular casing A to extend lengthwise thereof in a position to scoop into and deflect the heavier components outwardly from the spiral passageway into the compartment G, as suggested by the arrows 26.

Also, a second lateral deflector 29 is carried by the tubular casing A to extend lengthwise thereof in a position to scoop into and deflect the heavier components of the centrifuged exhaust gases inwardly from the compartment G back into the spiral passageway, as suggested by the arrow 30.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the present drawings, the carburetor L is of the downdraft type and has the usual air filter cleaner H mounted on the top thereof. The device K may be interposed between the carburetor L and the intake manifold M. Studs 40 are used for securing the device K in place.

It will be noted that the reference letters and numerals thus far applied to the apparatus J are identical with those used in FIG. I of my US. Pat. No. 3,435,810.

Turning now to the details of the device K, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, this device provides a housing designated generally at 41, the housing defining upper and lower plates 42 and 43, respectively, providing a compartment 44 therebetween (see FIG. 3). The plates 42 and 43 have openings 42' and 43', respectively, registering with charge conveying bores 45 of the carburetor L (see FIG. 1). Flow of the fuel charge through these bores is regulated by the usual butterfly valves 46. The control means for opening and closing these valves have been omitted from the drawings for simplicity purposes.

It will be seen that a tube 47 is provided on the housing 41 and has a slot 48 therein communicating with the compartment 44 of the housing. The pipe 16 connects the apparatus J with the tube 47 for conveying the recovered combustible components of the exhaust gases to the compartment of the housing, the compartment 44 in turn communicating with the openings 43 in the lower plate 43, whereby the recovered combustible components will be mixed with the fuel charge from the carburetor L and both will flow to the manifold M. The tube 47 is preferably provided with tees 49 at its opposite ends to which the pipe or pipes 16 are coupled.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper plate 42 is provided with curved baffles 50 disposed to deflect the recovered components of exhaust gases downwardly through the openings 43' in the lower plate 43, as suggested by the arrow 51 in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

Moreover, the housing 41 is provided with inclined blades 52 disposed to whirl the fuel charge as it flows from the carburetor L to the intake manifold M, thereby intermixing the fuel charge with the recovered combustible components of the exhaust gases. These inclined blades are formed on the upper plate 42, as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The curved baffles 50 extend along marginal portions of the upper openings 42' in proximate relation to the tube 47, while the remaining marginal portions of these upper openings remote from the tube 47 are provided with the inclined blades 52.

In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a spacer 53 has been illustrated as being inserted between the upper and lower plates 42 and 43, respectively, of the housing 41. This spacer defines recessed segments of circles 54 forming borders around the blade portions of the upper openings 42 the spacer further defining an open throat 55 leading from the tube slot 48 to the under faces of the curved baffles 50 and through which the incoming combustible components flow to the openings 43.

After the spacer 53 has been inserted into the housing 41, marginal flanges 42a and 43a on the plates 42 and 43, respectively are crimped over, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The upper and lower plates 42 and 43, respectively, are formed integral with an intermediate portion of material 56, the latter being rolled into substantially tubular form to provide the tube 47 but leaving a space between the plates defining the slot 48.

It will be apparent the tees 49 have openings 57 that place the tube 47 in communication with the atmosphere and through which air will be entrained by the recovered combustible components of the exhaust gases as they are drawn into the compartment 44 of the housing 41 during operation of the engine. Needle valves 58 are adjustable to regulate the amount of the combustible components that enter the tube 47 and are mixed with the entrained air.

The dot-dash line illustration of the lower plate 43 in FIGS. 2 and 3 show this plate before it is folded under the upper plate 42, as suggested by the arrow 59, during which time the tube 47 is rolled from the intermediate portion 56.

I claim:

l. The combination with a carburetor, an intake manifold, and an apparatus operable to recover combustible components from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, of a device for mixing the recovered combustible components with a fuel charge from the carburetor, said device comprising:

a. a housing connected to the carburetor and disposed above the intake manifold, the housing defining upper and lower plates providing a compartment therebetween, each of these plates having openings registering with charge-conveying bores of the carburetor and through which a fuel charge may pass from the carburetor to the intake manifold;

b. a tube provided on the housing and having a slot therein communicating with the compartment of the housing;

c. a pipe connecting said apparatus with the tube for conveying the recovered combustible components of the exhaust gases to the compartment of the housing, the compartment in turn communicating with the openings in the lower plate, whereby the recovered combustible components will be mixed with the fuel charge from the carburetor and both will flow to the manifold;

d. the tube being disposed at one side of the housing, the upper plate being provided with curved baffles disposed to deflect the recovered combustible components of the exhaust gases downwardly through the openings in the lower plate of the housing;

e. the upper plate of the housing further being provided with inclined blades disposed to whirl the fuel charge as it flows from the carburetor to the intake manifold, thereby intermixing the fuel charge with the recovered combustible components of the exhaust gases;

f. the curved baffles extending along marginal portions of the upper openings in proximate relation to the tube, and the remaining marginal portions of these openings remote from the tube being provided with the inclined blades.

2. The combination and device as set forth in claim 1;

g. and in which a spacer is inserted between the upper and lower plates and defining recessed segments of circles forming borders around the blade portions of the upper openings, the spacer further defining an open throat leading from the tube slot to the under faces of the curved baffles and through which the recovered combustible components of the exhaust gases flow to the lower openings.

3. The combination and device as set forth in claim 1;

g. and in which the upper and lower plates are formed integral with an intermediate ortion of material, the latter being rolled into substantial y tubular form to provide the tube, but leaving a space between the plate defining the slot. 

2. The combination and device as set forth in claim 1; g. and in which a spacer is inserted between the upper and lower plates and defining recessed segments of circles forming borders around the blade portions of the upper openings, the spacer further defining an open throat leading from the tube slot to the under faces of the curved baffles and through which the recovered combustible components of the exhaust gases flow to the lower openings.
 3. The combination and device as set forth in claim 1; g. and in which the upper and lower plates are formed integral with an intermediate portion of material, the latter being rolled into substantially tubular form to provide the tube, but leaving a space between the plate defining the slot. 